Skyrim Tips and Tricks » Discussions

Debate: Sneak Archery

• Albino

  

  Member
   

  March 4, 2015

  It's that time of the month again folks! Albino here with a new topic to debate.

  Sneak Archery

  The impetus for this debate is my experiences in the Character Building group, where I've heard a lot of people complain about sneak archery over the years. Namely, they seem to think it's boring and overpowered. However, a lot of builds, even legendary builds, use sneak archery. But enough about the CB group, this is Tips and Tricks.

  In my experience, sneak archery is a perfectly fine gameplay mechanic. It's a great way to start off combat, weakening foes before they close in on you. If you're constantly sneaking back into the shadows after every shot, then yeah, it can be overpowered and boring, but to me it seems easy enough to use sneak archery in a balanced way that enhances gameplay.

  So, I wanna see what some of you sneak archery haters have to say. What do you think is wrong with it? Or perhaps you think it's fine? Whatever your opinion is, let's hear it in the comments below.

  It's that time of the month again folks! Albino here with a new topic to debate.

  Sneak Archery

  The impetus for this debate is my experiences in the Character Building group, where I've heard a lot of people complain about sneak archery over the years. Namely, they seem to think it's boring and overpowered. However, a lot of builds, even legendary builds, use sneak archery. But enough about the CB group, this is Tips and Tricks.

  In my experience, sneak archery is a perfectly fine gameplay mechanic. It's a great way to start off combat, weakening foes before they close in on you. If you're constantly sneaking back into the shadows after every shot, then yeah, it can be overpowered and boring, but to me it seems easy enough to use sneak archery in a balanced way that enhances gameplay.

  So, I wanna see what some of you sneak archery haters have to say. What do you think is wrong with it? Or perhaps you think it's fine? Whatever your opinion is, let's hear it in the comments below.

• SpookyBorn2021

  

  Member
   

  March 4, 2015

  I think the main problem with Sneak Archery is combining it with  any crafting skill. Sneak and Archery by themselves only gets powerful when you decide to just stick back  and sling arrows forth without ever having a chance of being seen, and yet that character would be at a disadvantage in a closed room with no decent cover.

  I think it's a perfectly valid playthrough and is just as overpowered as any skill can become if you combine it with another. Alteration + Enchanting = Ridiculous abilty to Parlayse enemies. Destruction + Alchemy = Insane Damage, etc. 

  I think the main problem with Sneak Archery is combining it with  any crafting skill. Sneak and Archery by themselves only gets powerful when you decide to just stick back  and sling arrows forth without ever having a chance of being seen, and yet that character would be at a disadvantage in a closed room with no decent cover.

  I think it's a perfectly valid playthrough and is just as overpowered as any skill can become if you combine it with another. Alteration + Enchanting = Ridiculous abilty to Parlayse enemies. Destruction + Alchemy = Insane Damage, etc. 

• Henson

  

  Member
   

  March 4, 2015

  Like you said, if all you are going to do is stay hidden and pick off enemies, it is not my cup of tea yet I have done it with multiple characters. Ya gotta try everything eventually, right?
  
  However, I love the sneak skill. It really let's me sloooowww dooowwwnn when playing. Sometimes I blaze through dungeons and just flick enemies away like bugs (nothing wrong with that with some characters) but I much prefer to plan out attacks, spot enemy positions, and overall enjoy the landscapes and inner workings of a dark dungeon at a detailed pace.
  
  With archery mixed in? It really sets the tone for starting off combat. I also love plopping arrows to distract enemies. Getting a bit more damage on the front end could mean life and death.

  Like you said, if all you are going to do is stay hidden and pick off enemies, it is not my cup of tea yet I have done it with multiple characters. Ya gotta try everything eventually, right?
  
  However, I love the sneak skill. It really let's me sloooowww dooowwwnn when playing. Sometimes I blaze through dungeons and just flick enemies away like bugs (nothing wrong with that with some characters) but I much prefer to plan out attacks, spot enemy positions, and overall enjoy the landscapes and inner workings of a dark dungeon at a detailed pace.
  
  With archery mixed in? It really sets the tone for starting off combat. I also love plopping arrows to distract enemies. Getting a bit more damage on the front end could mean life and death.
• Albino

  

  Member
   

  March 4, 2015

  My thoughts exactly. You said it better than I did.

  My thoughts exactly. You said it better than I did.

• Librari the Wizard

  

  Member
   

  March 4, 2015

  I do like to open combat with a tactical ranged sneak attack, even on characters who aren't stealth archers.  A skill up here and there isn't as big of a difficulty on Adept difficulty.

  I've never played a character focused on nothing *but* stealth archery.  What do you do during quests where enemies appear right near you? :x

  I do like to open combat with a tactical ranged sneak attack, even on characters who aren't stealth archers.  A skill up here and there isn't as big of a difficulty on Adept difficulty.

  I've never played a character focused on nothing *but* stealth archery.  What do you do during quests where enemies appear right near you? :x

• Albino

  

  Member
   

  March 4, 2015

  I would assume you'd have to run away until you can duck back into the shadows again.

  I would assume you'd have to run away until you can duck back into the shadows again.

• Librari the Wizard

  

  Member
   

  March 4, 2015

  I really like Christopher Elliot's Forester build.  It's what I'm playing right now, though I'm still level 1!  The idea of being a stealthy archer who is also robust enough for swordfighting is appealing to me.

  I've seen a few builds intended for just using stealth archery everywhere.  One has all three crafting skills *and* uses Slow Time.  Too strong!

  I really like Christopher Elliot's Forester build.  It's what I'm playing right now, though I'm still level 1!  The idea of being a stealthy archer who is also robust enough for swordfighting is appealing to me.

  I've seen a few builds intended for just using stealth archery everywhere.  One has all three crafting skills *and* uses Slow Time.  Too strong!

• ShinJin

  

  Member
   

  March 4, 2015

  The exact same concept as marked for death... it's a fantastic mechanic if you use it to initiate combat. Personally, sneak-shoot-run-sneak-shoot-run archery bores me after a while, but I love getting off a shot or two to start things up :D

  The exact same concept as marked for death... it's a fantastic mechanic if you use it to initiate combat. Personally, sneak-shoot-run-sneak-shoot-run archery bores me after a while, but I love getting off a shot or two to start things up :D
• Albino

  

  Member
   

  March 4, 2015

  The thing with Marked for Death though, is that people don't complain about how it's boring or overpowered. Well, they do point out that it's overpowered, but usually spin it in a positive light, like how it can be used to make unarmed combat viable.

  The thing with Marked for Death though, is that people don't complain about how it's boring or overpowered. Well, they do point out that it's overpowered, but usually spin it in a positive light, like how it can be used to make unarmed combat viable.

• Paws

  

  Member
   

  March 4, 2015

  Sneak archery is great for characters with severe weakness because it can level the playing field which was previously stacked against your character. Consider a stage 4 vampire with the Apprenctice stone whose primary means of offence is the Mace of Molag Bal. When entering into a fort he knows to contain numerous pyromancers, it is sensible to have a skill you can fall back on to eliminate the obvious considerable threats.

  In such a scenario, sneak and archery can really set up a situation for the character to play to his other strengths, in this case twatting stuff with his mace, which otherwise would have been an exercise in frustration as you watch your vamp get incinerate by a lowly Flames spell 

  Sneak archery is great for characters with severe weakness because it can level the playing field which was previously stacked against your character. Consider a stage 4 vampire with the Apprenctice stone whose primary means of offence is the Mace of Molag Bal. When entering into a fort he knows to contain numerous pyromancers, it is sensible to have a skill you can fall back on to eliminate the obvious considerable threats.

  In such a scenario, sneak and archery can really set up a situation for the character to play to his other strengths, in this case twatting stuff with his mace, which otherwise would have been an exercise in frustration as you watch your vamp get incinerate by a lowly Flames spell